For the director of music. A miktam of David after the Philistines had captured him in Gath. To the tune of ‘A Dove on Distant Oak Trees.’
1Help me, God. Men are chasing me. All day long they keep attacking me.2My enemies chase me all day long. Many proud people are attacking me.3When I’m afraid, I put my trust in you.4I trust in God. I praise his word. I trust in God. I am not afraid. What can mere people do to me?5All day long they twist my words. They are always making plans to destroy me.6They get together and hide. They watch my steps. They hope to kill me.7Because they are so evil, make sure you don’t let them escape. God, bring down the nations in your anger.8Make a record of my sadness. List my tears in your book. Aren’t you making a record of them?9My enemies will turn back when I call out to you for help. Then I will know that God is on my side.10I trust in God. I praise his word. I trust in the LORD. I praise his word.11I trust in God. I am not afraid. What can mere people do to me?12God, I have made promises to you. I will bring my thank-offerings to you.13You have saved me from the darkness of death. You have kept me from tripping and falling. Now I can live with you in the light of life.
1To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam[1] of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; (1Sa 21:10; 1Sa 22:1; Ps 4:1; Ps 16:1; Ps 57:1; Ps 57:3)2my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.3When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Ps 11:1)4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (Ps 27:1; Ps 118:6; Isa 51:12; Heb 13:6)5All day long they injure my cause;[2] all their thoughts are against me for evil.6They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. (Ps 10:8; Ps 59:3; Ps 71:10; Ps 140:2; Isa 54:15)7For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! (Ps 7:6; Ps 55:23; Ps 59:5)8You have kept count of my tossings;[3] put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? (2Ki 20:5; Ps 39:12; Mal 3:16)9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that[4] God is for me. (Ps 102:2; Ps 118:6; Ro 8:31)10In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise,11in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Ps 56:4)12I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. (Ps 50:14)13For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. (Ps 49:15; Ps 49:19; Ps 116:8; Ps 116:9)